Ad-free streaming with lossless and spatial audio, no free tier.
- Starting price
- $11.99/month (Individual)
- Pricing model
- Free-trial
- User rating
- 4.9 / 5
- Best for
- Lossless music inside the Apple ecosystem
Apple Music streams lossless and spatial audio at no extra cost, which is its clearest advantage over Spotify. It is also woven into every Apple device, from HomePod to CarPlay.
Who Apple Music is for
People already inside the Apple ecosystem, and anyone who cares about audio quality. Lossless and Dolby Atmos are included on the standard plan rather than sold as an upgrade.
Discovery is the weak spot. Apple leans on human-curated playlists and radio, which many people prefer, but the algorithmic recommendations are not as sharp as Spotify’s.
Which Apple Music plan should you pick?
Individual is $11.99 a month, a dollar less than Spotify, with the first month free for new subscribers.
Family is $19.99 for up to six people, and Student is $6.99 with verification.
If you use two or more Apple services, look at Apple One from $21.95 a month. It bundles Apple Music with iCloud+, TV+ and Arcade, and usually costs less than buying them separately.
Apple Music pricing and plans
Individual
$11.99
per month
First month free for new subscribers.
- 1 account
- Lossless and spatial audio
- Offline downloads
- Included in Apple One
Family
$19.99
per month
Up to six people via Family Sharing.
- 6 accounts
- Personal libraries for each member
- Lossless and spatial audio
- Included in Apple One
Student
$6.99
per month
Requires student verification.
- 1 verified account
- Full catalogue
- Lossless and spatial audio
- First month free
Apple One
From $21.95
per month
Bundles Music with up to five other services.
- Apple Music included
- iCloud+ storage
- Apple TV+
- Apple Arcade
- Cheaper than buying separately
Pricing checked against the official Apple Music pricing page on 5 September 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm before you buy.
What Apple Music actually does
- Lossless audio at no extra cost
- Dolby Atmos spatial audio
- Human-curated playlists and radio stations
- Full integration with iPhone, Mac, HomePod and CarPlay
- Sing along with adjustable vocals
- Live radio stations including Apple Music 1
- Library matching for your own music files
- Available on Android and Windows too
Pros and cons
What works well
- Lossless and spatial audio included at no extra cost
- A dollar cheaper than Spotify Individual
- Deep integration across Apple devices
- Apple One bundle is good value for multi-service users
- Strong human-curated playlists and radio
What to watch out for
- No free ad-supported tier
- Algorithmic discovery lags Spotify
- Best experience requires Apple hardware
- Family plan needs Family Sharing set up
- Interface changes frequently between iOS versions
Apple Music FAQs
How much is Apple Music?
Individual is $11.99 a month, Family $19.99 for up to six people, and Student $6.99 with verification.
Is there a free tier?
No. Apple Music offers a free trial, usually one month for new subscribers, but there is no permanently free ad-supported tier.
Does it include lossless audio?
Yes, on every plan at no extra cost, along with Dolby Atmos spatial audio. This is its main advantage over Spotify.
Is Apple One cheaper?
If you use two or more Apple services, usually yes. Apple One starts at $21.95 a month and bundles Music with iCloud+, TV+ and Arcade.
Does it work on Android?
Yes. There are official Apple Music apps for Android and Windows, and it runs in a browser.
How does discovery compare with Spotify?
Apple leans on human curation and radio, which many people prefer for quality. Spotify’s algorithmic recommendations are still sharper.
Can I keep my own music library?
Yes. Apple Music matches or uploads your own files so they sit alongside the streaming catalogue across your devices.
Can I share a Family plan?
Yes, with up to six people through Family Sharing, and each member gets their own library and recommendations.
Weighing up other options? Read our media, video and music tool alternatives.
Ready to try Apple Music?
Go to Apple Music